20.2 Habitat destruction

Biodiversity (number of different species in an area) and the three Cambridge-named reasons humans destroy habitats: increased area for housing and crop/livestock production, extraction of natural resources, and freshwater + marine pollution. Altering food webs has a negative impact on habitats — removing one species cascades through chains. Deforestation case study: five undesirable effects to explain — reducing biodiversity, extinction, loss of soil (no roots to hold it), flooding (no rainfall absorption), and increase of atmospheric CO₂ (no photosynthesis + stored carbon released).